Tim Tebow’s Wonderlic Prayer Request

tebow316ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio presents anecdotal evidence that Tim Tebow’s habit of wearing his religion on his sleeve (not to mention his eyeblack) may not translate as well at the next level.

At the Scouting Combine, the Wonderlic exam is administered to players in groups.  The 12-minute test is preceded by some brief instructions and comments from the person administering the test.

Per a league source, after the person administering the test to Tebow’s group had finished, Tebow made a request that the players bow their heads in prayer before taking the 50-question exam.

Said one of the other players in response:  “Shut the f–k up.”  Others players in the room then laughed.

He could have used the help, apparently, judging by his below-average score of 22 out of 50.

As to the NFL’s culture, there’s certainly plenty of room for open displays of religiosity, especially Christianity.  But probably not from rookies and not when people are trying to concentrate on something that could determine their next paycheck.

FILED UNDER: Humor, Religion, Sports, , ,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Alex Knapp says:

    Tim Tebow needs to read Matthew 6:5-8.

  2. Brett says:

    Is that score an actual predictor of anything? As the ESPN article itself points out, a number of prominent major QB’s had pretty low scores.

  3. steve says:

    Could he spell cat if we spotted him that c and the t?

    Steve

  4. tom p says:

    As an avowed atheist (STL fan), could I care less? If it helps him to throw a straighter pass (ala Kurt Warner)(who always wore his religion on his sleeve) what difference?

    Look, it worked for Kurt, why not for Tim? Religous freedom… It is not just for the aetheists.

  5. John Burgess says:

    According to Wiki, a score of 24 is average for QBs.

    As we all know–and the Wonderlic confirms–it’s the linemen who’ve got the mental power.

  6. nice strategy says:

    As an avowed atheist (STL fan), could I care less? If it helps him to throw a straighter pass (ala Kurt Warner)(who always wore his religion on his sleeve) what difference?

    Look, it worked for Kurt, why not for Tim? Religous freedom… It is not just for the aetheists.

    Not many atheists would care if Tebow wanted to pray. I surely don’t. But if someone I didn’t know asked me to bow my head to his god in a professional setting, I’d be annoyed. STFU and MOYB you sanctimonious, presumptuous, twit. Tebow is free to make the request, and the other players are free to ignore and mock him.

    “The right to be heard does not automatically give you the right to be taken seriously.”

  7. sam says:

    [I]f someone I didn’t know asked me to bow my head to his god in a professional setting, I’d be annoyed.

    I’m always amused at the assumption of the religious that everybody else in the room shares their particular beliefs.

  8. Franklin says:

    The crass response didn’t need to be crass, but it was the appropriate sentiment.

    /Unless Tim also wants to be invited to my human sacrifice rituals …

  9. Franklin says:

    On another note, go find yourself a sample Wonderlic test, like this one: http://walterfootball.com/draftwonderlic.php

    Most of the questions are simple, but the important part is that it is timed. You’ve got about 12 seconds to answer each question, on average.

    Still, I’ve got to wonder how people who get a score of less than 30 are even qualified to tie their own shoes.